62 
HARRISONS’ NURSERIES 
Privet Block 
California Privet 
This is the universal hedge in the East, a fact proving that Privet has greater 
merit under ordinary conditions for this purpose than any other plant. For live 
fences at village, town, and country homes it is the very best of all materials. 
On public grounds of all kinds, in parks and cemeteries, along roads and paths, 
on factory grounds, and on^ newjy subdivided areas near towns, nothing else 
can be used in its place, and in this place it is indispensable. California Privet is 
known as Ligustrum ovalijolium by botanists. It comes from Japan and China, 
and is able to stand a temperature of zero without any damage. Ten or fifteen 
degrees below zero do not damage it much, but twenty or thirty below will 
kill the wood to the ground. This is not so serious as it might be, because the 
roots throw up a strong growth by the next August. 
Privet produces wood faster than any other shrub or tree. When you want a 
hedge that is thick right down to the ground,^ you must set the plants close to¬ 
gether, anywhere from 6 to 18 inches apart.^ It is sometimes best to set in a double 
row, the plants “staggered,” a foot apart in each line. Some people use even a 
tripm row. The lines should be about 8 inches apart. This is the way to make 
the finest hedges, especially when you want them a couple of feet wide and over 
3 feet high. A single row of plants will make a beautiful hedge, but it will not 
be so thick at the bottom, and will require careful trimming to make it as nice. 
When possible plow or dig a trench 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep. Don’t throw the 
dirt out; just mix it thoroughly. A horse and harrow or cultivator are the best 
tools. When you have a fine bed of soil, plow a trench in the middle, and set 
the plants in dry soil. The roots should be “ puddled ” as soon as you unpack 
thern, and if you do not plant at once, they should be coated with mud again 
^st before you plant. Water, if you can, after planting. A good heavy rain will 
TO for you. ^ Mulch 6 inches deep with cut-grass or buckwheat hulls 
right after planting and watering. You can water twice a week and fertilize 
half a dozen times a season with good results. Cut back to within 3 inches of the 
ground the first season, then each April cut back again to within 6 inches of the 
previous year’s heigh^ This harsh treatment will force a thick, leafy growth of 
twigs and branches right from the ground up. By setting the plants 6 inches 
deeper than they were in the nursery each one will have half a dozen or more 
